Ceretto: Middle class families left behind by DREAM Act

by jmaloni

Press release

Tue, May 21st 2013 11:45 pm

Assemblyman
John D. Ceretto, R-I-C-Lewiston, today voted against the DREAM Act,
which he said imposes further costs on middle class families who are
already struggling to pay for their children's college education.
The DREAM Act, which was passed, would allow illegal aliens who are
also students to receive taxpayer funds for their college education.

"The
average New York student leaves college with almost $26,000 in debt.
We should be looking to help these lawful students with their
oppressive debt and lowering their costs before we help illegal
aliens," Ceretto said. "It is fundamentally unfair for students
and families who are lawful citizens to be burdened with their debts,
while those who break our laws receive help."

Ceretto
noted his own family experience, both with his grandparents and his
own children. Ceretto's grandparents legally came to the U.S. from
Italy and were proud to become Americans to give their family a
better life. His children all have significant debt from their own
college education, like so many lawful residents of New York. The
assemblyman said it should be the priority of the state to help its
lawful citizens rather than rewarding illegal aliens for breaking the
law.

"Proponents
of this measure cannot even provide an estimate as to what this law
would cost the taxpayers. I cannot in good conscience vote for a law
without knowing how much hard-working taxpayers will be forced to pay
to implement the program," Ceretto said. "Families are already
having a hard enough time paying their own bills as the cost of
groceries, gasoline and property taxes continue to rise. It is my job
to look after the interests of my constituents, and this law will
only raise the tax burden on the already overtaxed residents of New
York."